Eun-Hee Ji Wins Season opener on the LPGA.
DIAMOND RESORTS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
The LPGA returned this week, where the tournament winners from the last 2 seasons gathered in Florida for the Tournament of Champions.
Eun-Hee Ji defeated the worlds best players to win the first event of the 2019 LPGA season. She won by 2 shots from fellow South Korean Mirim Lee on a very windy final day in Florida.
After round 1 it was Canadian and world number 9 Brooke Henderson who grabbed a share of the lead with Eun-Hee Ji. The pair had the rounds of the day with a -6 65. Henderson after her round said “I was doing well today, and you're making putts. That's all you can really ask for,” after her 25 putts on day one!
One shot behind was American Stacy Lewis who was returning to the LPGA after giving birth to her first child, where she hit 11 of 13 fairways; 14 of 18 greens and needed only 27 putts in shooting a 66.
After round 2 it was Henderson who opened up a 2 shot advantage on the field. World number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn from Thailand had moved into 2nd and looked the biggest threat to Henderson's chances. However, it would be Lydia Ko who would tie Eun-Hee Ji heading into the final round with Henderson just 1 shot back and Jutanugarn dropping off the pace very uncharacteristically.
On the final day after a bogey on the first hole it was Eun-Hee Ji who kept her nerve and rolled in 3 birdies on the back 9 while the others faltered in the wind.
After her win she said "I just enjoyed my game with my celebrity partners, It makes it more fun and I relaxed more. So I didn't get nervous." The LPGA opener was limited to winners over the last two seasons. It also included a celebrity field of athletes and entertainers who competed for a $500,000 purse.
